Apparatus for pulsating or varying air or fluid pressure.



W. H. LAWRENCE. APPARATUS FOU PULSATING 0R VARYINGAIR 0R FLUID PRESSURE.

W. H. LAWRENCE.

APPARATUS FOR PULSATING OR VARYING AIR 0R FLUID PRESSURE. APPLICATION NLM) 51111.30, 101:4.

LZSQSM Patented Jan.19,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

im@ www@ VV. H. LAWRENCE.

APPARATUS PUR PULSATING 0U VARYING AIU 0S` FLUID PRESSURE.

APPLICATION FILED .IAN.30. 1913,

1,125,348., Patented Jan.19,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. H. LAWRENCE.

APPARATUS FOR PULSATING 0R VARYING AIR OR FLUID PRESSURE.

APPLICATION FILED IAILSO, 19134- lyly., Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

41 V r 0 N UNITED sfrATnsrA-rnnzr oFF-ion.

maar LAWRENCE, or Mantovana vrc'roma, nostrana, Assmann-ro "D. H. 'BURRELL & COMPANY, or' rrrnn rnrrsnnw 'YORK specification of Letteis'atent. v

' Application nled January 80, 1918. Serial No. 745,249.

l To all it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM Han-xx LAW- RnNcn, of No. 35 Melville street, -Pollokshields, Glasgow, Scotland, at `present temporarily residin at Menzies Hotel, Melbourne, in the ritish S'tateof ietoria, Commonwealth of Australia, engineer, a subject of the King' of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Pulsating or Varying Air or Fluid Pressure, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing pulsations or variations in Afluid pressure, and Ymore particularly to 'apparatus of -this kind employed in connection with pneumatic milking machines for intermittently applying suction to the teat cups or analogous parts of the machine.

The objects of the -invention are to produce an eilicient andreliable apparatus of improved construction in which -all of the parts are easily accessible for cleaning or repairs; also to so construct the base of the apparatus as to form a cover for the milk pail or receptacle which will prevent any liquids or substances other than milk from entering into the milk receptacle; also to provide the apparatus with a device of improved construction for indicating the pulsations or variations in liuid pressure produced by the mechanism; also to provide means for facilitating the handling or carrying of the apparatus and for protecting the zsame against injury; 'also to improve the construction of apparatus of this kind in the respects hereinafter specified.

This invention is shown in the drawings asapplied to a pneumatic milking machine, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to this use but can be employed for other purposes, and can if desired be operatedin connection with media other than air.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a top plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention, suitable for use with one set of teat cups. Fig. 2 isa front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section. Fig. 4 is a top plan View of an apparatus adapted for use with two setsA of teat cups and having the pulsating mechanism detached there rom. Figs.

struction for the valve chest covers.

f and v6 are fragmentary horizontal sections on lines A-, Figs. 2 and 3, showing the parts of the mechanism in different positwns. F1 7 is a top .plan View of the reverslngfva ve detached from the apparatus. 8 1s a central sectional elevation of the pu sator valve detachedfrom the apparatus. F rg. 9 1s a fragmentary sectional elevation yPatenten aan. r9, 15915.

of the apparatus on line B B B2 B8 B4, Fig.

5. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional elevation'thercof'on line C C C2, Fig. 5. Fig. 171 is a central sectional elevation of a device for indicating the pulsations or variations the uid ressure. Fig. 12 is a `fragmentary sectiona elevation o n line D-D, Fig. 1, showing the vbase of the apparatus and snowing a pulsation indicator of different construction. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevation, artly in section, of an apparatus of modi ed construction. Fig. 14 is a sectional plan view thereof, on line E--E, Fig. 13, showing -holding mea-ns of modified .con-

Fi s. 15 and 16 are respectively a longitudixigal section and an elevation of .holding means of another construction for the valve chestinder of greater area which forms acontinu-` ation of the valve cylinder 1 and in which a motor piston 4 is slidably arranged. The motor cylinder is preferably made easily detachable from the valve cylinder'at their juncture 5 to facilitate 'the cleaning of the apparatus. The pulsator valve is preferably made inthe `form of a cylindrical plunger and is secured to the motor piston 4 in any suitable manner so as to permit these parts to be readily detached from each other. In the construction shown in the drawings, the lower face of the piston 4 and the upper face of the pulsator valve 2 are subjected to atmospheric pressure which enters .the cylinder 3 through an opening 24. During the operation of the apparatus the lower .face of Ward movement of the pulsator valve an(1 motor piston takes place when the uppei face of the piston, which 1s of greater area: than the pulsator valve, will cause the piston and valve to move upwardly. When air at atmospheric "pressure is admitted to the motor cylinder above the piston, the suction acting on the lower face of the pulsator valve will cause the piston and valve to move to their lower positions.

The upper portion of the motor cylinder 3 is connected either with the suction which operates the milking devices or with the atmosphere by means of a reversing valve 7 which, in the construction shown, is cylindrical in form and operates in a lcylinder 6, preferably formed integral with the pulsator cylinder 1. The reversing valve is preferably provided with flexible cup shaped packing rings 7 or other means for preventing leakage between the valve and cylinder and has a peripheral recess 8 which is adapted to'form a connection between a passage .14 which connects with a passage 27 leading to the upper end of the motor cylinder 3 and either one of two ports 15.and 16. The port 15 connects the valve cylinder 6 with the atmosphere and the port 16 leads into a suction tube Ll1 which is connected witha suction space 18 in the base 34 of the apparatus. W hen the reversing valve is at one end .of its movement as shown in Fig. 5, the peripheral recess 8 connects the passage 14 with the port 16,causing the suction from the tube -11 to be communicated 'to the cylinder 3. lVhen the reversing valve is in its other position, as shown in Fig. 6, the passage 1.4 is uncovered by the reversing valve and connected vWith the port 15, thus subjecting the cylinder to atmospheric pressure. 'lhe flow of air through the tube 11 to and from the motor cylinder may be regulated by a valve 19 of any suitable kind.

hus the time required to exhaust the motor c linder or'to break the suction therein.v

ay be varied so that the pulsations of the 4pparatus can be regulated.

The valve 7 may be moved back and forth in the cylinder 6 in any suitable manner, the following construction being, however, preferably employed for this purpose: The opposite ends of the cylinder 6 are connected by means of passages 12 and 13 with the interior of the pulsator cylinder 1l and the pulsator valve 2 has ports 21 and 22, Figs. 5, 6 and 10, which connect with a passage 20 extending into the pulsator valve and opening at its lower end into the suction space 18 in 'the base of the apparatus. The ports 2l and are so arranged relatively to the passages 12 and 13 that whenA the pulsator valve is in its lower position as 'shown in Fig. 5, the passage 13 and port 21 will register, so that suction is admitted from the fuction space 18 through the pulsator valve 6b o one side of the cylinder 6, thereby drawthe reversing valve 7 to that side vof the n :ylinden lVhen the pulsator valve is in itsl cate with the atmosphere through a passage 23 extending lengthwise of the valve and terminating in the upper end thereof. The passage 23 communicates with the atmosphere through the opening 2-1 in the cylinder 3. The relief ports 25 and 26 are so arranged on the pulsator valve that the port 26 engages with the passage 12 when the suction port 21 engages with the passage 13, and so that the. relief. port 25 engages with the passage 13 when the suction port 22 engages with the passage 12, thus relieving the suction on one side of the cylinder 6 at the same time that the other side thereof is subjected to the suction.

In order to reduce the friction between the reversing valve and the cylinder, the valve is made as light as possible and is preferably made hollow at its opposite ends, the hollow ends being filled with buffers 9 which are preferably light in weight and elastic to absorb any shocks by the striking of the valve against the ends of the cylinder. The valve may, however, be of any other suitable construction adapting it to be reciprocated in its cylinder by air pressure.

It is desirable to so construct the reversing valve cylinder 6 as to render the valve 'i' readily accessible for cleaning or repairs. For this reason the cylinder is provided -at its opposite ends with cylinder heads 10 which are 'secured thereto in 'any suitable manner so as to be readily removable therefrom In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and', each of the cylinder heads is held in its operative position by means of a yoke 11 which bears at one end upon the cylinder head and at its other end on a projection 11c extending outwardly from the pulsatorcylinder 1. The yokes are preferably made of resilient material andare secured in their operative positions by means of thumb screws 11 engaging 'with studs 11b which project through central Holes in the yokes 11 and are secured to the pulsator cylinder. In the construction shown in Figs. 6, 15 and 16,

the resilient yoke is replaced by a two-piece yoke consisting of a resilient part 11l and a rigid part 11h. Another clamping device of slightly modified construction is shown on Aat' 'aa-tasa er ria '1:

. man',

the cylinder 1fa'nd which hears atene fend its otherf-endfwitha damping srew `11v which' bears onnthe cylinder headi- -Inthe constructionfshown in Fig.- `14s, the two cylinder heads are connectedl by means of a spring clamp 11- Whichlis secured to thel heads by means ofv screws 113, and which pressesthe two'cylinder .heads into enga e ment with the'ends of the cylindenr lf esired, thisl construction ma be modified as shown in Fig: 1f?, in whic -a rigid clamp 111 is ei'nl'olo'yed whichis'provided atv its op#- posite ends with set'screws 11k adapted to engage' with the cylinder heads to hold jth'e same in engagement with the' ends of `the cylinder` ln the operation of the apparatus the motor' piston 4 arid the pulsator valve 2 are moved upwardly when the yupper end of the motor cylinder 3 is subjected to suction. lIn the upper position of the pulsa-tor valve, Fig. .10, connections are. established?, as shownin Fig. 6, to causethe reversingv valve 7 to be moved to the opposite end of its.

stroke landthereby break the suction in the upper end of the motor cylinder and admit atmospheric pressure theretor This causesA the motor piston 4 and pulsator valve 2 to move downwardly. In the lower 'position of the pulsator valve, Fig. 9, connections are established vas shown in Fig.` 5 'to cause the reversing valve 7 tobe moved toits former position, thereby again'connectin-'g the upper portion of the'motor cylinderv with the`- suction and causing 'the motor'piston and pulsator valve to move toitheir upper posi tions, whereupon the operation is repeated as above. described.' .This lreciprocatory movement of the pulsator valve is employed to produce the pulsationsI or variations in pressure in the .milking-.devices by alternately connecting the same with the .suction and with the atmosphere. Forthis purpose a passage 28--is provided in the pulsator valve which vterminates in ports 29 and 30 leading to the outer surface'of. the valve, and a' passage 31 is formed in the Wall of the pulsator cylinder which connects vwith a pulsation passage 32 'formed in the baseof the apparatus and connecting with a tube48V which leads to theteat cups or milking devices.- When the pulsator valve 2 is in its lower position, Fig. 9, the port 30 connects with the passage 31 and the port 29 registers with an opening 54 in the Wall of the cylinder 1 and thus admits atmospheric pressure to the pulsation' passage 32 through the pas sage 28 'in the pulsator'valvel As the pul-l satorvalve. moves upwardly the passage .31 in the cylinder lis uncovered by the valve l"so that the suction space 18 ini base et the-apparatus is in communication with the passages-31,. 32 and 48.- ln order that.l the. suction passage maym-be in communication' with the suctlon space during the greater part Aof the reciprocatory movement of 'the pulsator valve, the valve isfprovided with a.

Arecess which establishes fcommunication betweenthe suction space 18 and the passage 31iifs`hortly after the controlling valve moves out of its lower position.

Any suitable means may be employed for preventing the pulsatorvalve from turning on its vertical axis in the cylinder 1.l r-lhe means shownfor this purpose comprise a longitudinal groove 66 in the periphery of the valve, Figs. 5.` and 14'., and a key or stud 33 projectin through a hole in the 'cylinder 1 and slidab y engaging in the groove. This stud is preferably held in its engaging position by a spring-67 which enables the stud to be easily withdrawn out of the groove to permit' the' withdrawal of the controlling valve from the cylinder.

The base onwhich the" apparatus Y'is mounted maybe. of anysuitable construc-.

tion, enabling it to be employed as a cover for a milk-receptacle. In the construction.

shown, the base 34-has a-'downwardly exl.tendingannular flangel 35 which is adapted to overhang the upper edge of the'milk re coptacle andjis provlded, near its outer edge,

with an annular -dovetail groove 36 which contains a packing ring or gasket 37 preferably of lrubber or other ylelding material and which is adapted to restpon the upper edge of the milk receptacle to forni an air tight seal between the base of the apparatus and the receptacle. By making the groove dovetailed, the washer 37 will be securely held in place therein.

`The suction space 18 in the base of the apparatus communicates with the interior of the milk receptacle by means of a nozzle 39 whichis removably secured in the base. The

upper portion of this nozzle extends into the suction space 18 and is provided at one` .sidegwith an opening 38. The lower end of `the nozzle is preferabl vas shown at 61, and 1s otcomparatively large diameter to prevent the drawing into the'suction chamber of the finely divided made bell-shaped,

particles of milk which collect on the base' 34 and thus eects not only a saving in milk but also prevents a filling up of the suction space 18 with milk, which would interfere with the operationof the apparatus.v The nozzle 39 through which the suction is communicated from the suction space in the base to the milk receptacle,p also forms a trap which prevents liquid or other matter which may collect in the suction space from passing into the milk receptacle. Thesuction passage" 18 inthe base ofl the apparatus is 4 the base 34 of the apparatus.

passage 42 preferablyincludes a transparent- 4: lig-ratas@ connected by means of a passage 40 with the tube 45 through which the How of milk can be observed and which terminates in a nipple 5l, which is secured onthebaseby a clamp v52. and to, which' ,the flexible tubes connecting with the teat cups or milking devices are attached. The transparent tube 45 -may be held in position on the base in any suitable manner. In the construction shown, -the ends of the tube are secured in sockets formed in the lug 43x and in the -inner end of the nipple 51. The ends of the transpar- I ent tube engage with Washers 46 and 47 to form an air-tight connection between the transparent tube and the nipple 5l and lug 43". In'order to prevent the Washers 46 and 47, which are made of flexible material, from being drawn into the suction passage 42, ferrules 80, provided at opposite ends ofthe transparent tube, are preferably placed into the passage inside of the washers to prerent the collapsing of the Washers owing to the suction Within the passage. A similar transparent tube 5() and nipple 49 are also placed in the pulsation passage 48,- as shown in Fig. 12, the nipple being held by a clamp 53.

A suitable indicator is'preferably pro. vided which enables the operator to determine whether the apparatus' is operating properly and for indicating the speed at which the device is operating, and approximately the degree ot' variations in pressure produced by the apparatus. Any suitable means may be employed for this purpose. In the construction shown in'Fig. 12, a cylinder 57 is provided which communicates at its lower end with the pulsation passage .32 and in which a piston 56 is slidablv arranged. The action of the suction tending to draw the piston 56 into its lower positionl is opposed by a spring 58 which presses against the lower face of the piston. A

' vent hole 59 is provided'in the upper end of the cylinder 57. The cylinder' 57 may be made of transparent materlal so that the movement of the piston .therein can be readily seen, or the pistonilnay be provided with an extension or rod 61a pro]ectmg through an opening in a cylinder head 60.

The position of the piston and of the rod 61a indicates the degree of suction within the pulsation passage 32. A nother form of' indicator is shown` i-n Fig.)v 11 which consists of a screw stud'74 having a central passage 76 connecting with the pulsation passage 32 and terminating in an annular groove or recess 7 5 formed in the outer periphery7 of the stud. A n elastic tube or membrane 73 is stretched around the recess 75 in; the upper part of the stud. The variations in pressure in 'the passage 32 will be communicated through the passage 76 inthe stud to the recess therein and thus cause the elastic membrane to contract and dilate' in accordance with the lvariations in suction in .\the pulsation passage. The flow of air to the recess 75 in the stud can be controlled by means of a needle valve 77, arranged in the' upper end' of the stud. A gageY or other form of indicator maybe used if desired in place ofthose described.

The apparatus is preferably provided with a handle to facilitate the carrying of the same. In the` construction shown, the apparatus is provided With a bail 62 lwhich is pivoted by means of thumb screws on brackets 69 secured to the base 34. These brackets are provided with vertical recesses 72, Fig. 4, into Whiclrthe pivoted ends of the bail can enterand in which they can be l secured by tightening the thumb screws 70 when the bail is in its upright position. The bail is provided with a handle 71, and hooks 63 may,'if desired, be secured at opposite ends of the handle 'on which the teat cups can be suspended when not in use.

The apparatus may be provided with a cover 68, shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1-3 and 9, which may be of 'any suitable con` struction and which preferably covers only the pulsator mechanism and leaves the pulsation indicator, the suction and pulsation passages andthe regulating valve 19 exposed so that they `are readily accessible. A spring 64, Figs. 2 and 3, attached to the handle of the apparatus holds the cover and the movable parts of the pulsator mechanism in place.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the apparatus is adapted to operate on tvvo` sets of teat cups. For this purpose a second tube 5 5, similar to the tube 48, ioins into the pulsation passage 32. Two suction passages are shown' in this figure and are located at opposite sides of the pulsation passages. The suction passagescommunicate with the interior of the milk receptacle in the same manner as hereinbefore described.

y Fig. 13 discloses a construction which can be employed when the apparatus is used in connection with single chambered teat cups. In this construction the suction passage 42 instead of being led directly into the milk receptacle, terminates in a cylinder 81, as shown at 42", and .is alternately opened and naar-.ag

vsubstantially with thepulsatorffvalve 2 hereinbefore described.

'lhe apparatus has; :been described. .as operated by the-suction which is employed for milking and by atmospheric pressure. Pressure greater .than atmospheric can, however, be employed ifdesircd.

I claim as my in vention: :1..Inwapulsatoig the combination of a pulsator cylinder, a pulsator valvein-said cylinder, means for reciprocating said valve in said cylinder, a longitudinal groove in the periphery of the valve, .a pin extending through the wall of the cylinder and projecting into the groove, and means for yieldingly holding said pin in said groove and permitting the pin to be withdrawn to enable the valve to be removed from said cylinder.

2. In a pulsator, the combination of a motor cylinder and a piston, a reversing valve adapted to supply motive fluid to the motor cylinder, a cylinder in which said reversing valve is contained, removable cylinder headsv at opposite sides o f said valve cylinder, and means for clamping said cylinder heads into their operative positions.

3. In a pulsa-tor, the combination of aA motor cylinder andl a piston, a reversing valve adapted to supply motive fluid to the motor cylinder, a cylinder in which said reversing valve is contained, removable cylinder heads at opposite sides of said valve cylinder, and resilient clamping means for yieldingly securingv said cylinder heads in theirl operative positions.

4. A milking machine having a base which is adapted to form a cover for a milk receptacle, and a bell-shaped suction nozzle which projects through said base and through which the air is exhausted from said milk receptacle.

5. In a milking machine, the combination with pulsating mechanism, of a base on which said mechanism is mounted and which is adapted to form a cover for a milk receptacle, a suction space in said base, and a suction nozzle extending through said base to connect the milk receptacle with the suction space, said nozzle extending into the upper part of said suction space to form a trap to prevent liquid from said suction space from entering the milk receptacle.

6. In a milking machine, the combination with pulsating mechanism, of a base on which said mechanism is mounted and which is adapted to form a cover for a milk receptacle, a suction space in said base, and a bell-shaped suction nozzle extending through said base to connect the milk receptacle with the suction space and terminating at its upper end above the floor of .said suction space to form a trap to prevent liquid fromsaid'suction space from entering theamilk g receptacle.

7. In'afmilkingY machine, the combination vwith pulsating mechanism, of a base on.

which saidmechanism `is mounted and whichis adapted to form a cover'for a. milk receptacle and which is provided Witha passage through which the pulsations are and communicating with said passage and havinv' a movable part which moves in accordancewith the variations of pressure in said passage.

8. In a milking machine, the combination with mechanism for producing variations in air pressure, of a device for indicating said variations comprisinga cylinder having a transparent wall and to which the air at varying pressure is admitted, a piston in said cylinder, and a spring acting upon the piston and opposing the variable air pressure, whereby the position of the piston will indicate the pressure of the air.

9. In a milking machine, the combination with pulsating mechanism, of a base on which said mechanism is mounted and which is adapted to form a cover for a milk receptacle and which is provided with a passage through which the pulsations are transmitted to the milking organs, and a device .mounted on the base for indicating variations in pressure in said passage coinprising a cylinder which receives at one end the variable air pressure, a piston in said cylinder which is moved by the variations in air pressure, a spring opposing said movement of the piston, and a part secured to said piston and projecting out of the cylinder for indicating the positionfof the piston in said cylinder.

10. A milking machine having a suction conducting passage comprising several rigid tubes, a iexible washer interposed between their abutting ends to form an air-tight connection between said tubes, and a ferrule located within the tubes at their juncture and preventing the sucking of the washer into the tubes.

11. In a milking machine, the combination with pulsating mechanism, of a base on the handle adapted to hold parts of said pulsating mechanism in place.

12. In a milking machine, thc combination with a pulsating mechanism, a passage connecting the pulsating mechanism with the milking organs, and means connected with said passage and having a part which moves in accordance with variations in pressure in said passage to indicate the extent to which the pressure in said passage varies.

13. In a milking machine, the combination with. pulsating mechanism, of a, base v In testimony whereof I have signed my on which said mechanism is mounted, a name to this s ecication in the presence cover adapted to rest on said base and to of two subscriblng witnesses. Anclose said mechanism, a handle mounted WILLIAMHENRYLAWRENGE.

5 on said base, and e sprin on said handle Witnesses:

adapted to yeldingly ho d said cover in BEDLINGTON BoDYCoMB, place. W. J. S. THOMPSON. 

